Nicks had a scope on the left knee he injured in Week 2 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Nicks suggested he may have suffered the injury, in part, because he was compensating for pain in the right foot he fractured last spring. Nicks missed three games with the foot and knee injuries but was considerably slowed by both for the balance of the season.

Baas had "multiple" procedures, according to a person with knowledge of his condition. That person requested anonymity because Coughlin did not disclose the surgeries, saying only that they were "on his body." Baas was on the injury report several times last season with hand/elbow, ankle, hip and shoulder injuries.

Coughlin said right guard Chris Snee, who had arthroscopic surgery to fix a torn labrum and bone spurs in his hip, won’t do much work this spring but will be able to make a "full recovery." A person familiar with Snee’s status said he will be ready for training camp.

• The Giants have several uncertainties along their offensive line, with Baas and Snee coming off surgeries and LT Will Beatty and LG Kevin Boothe free agents. RT David Diehl is under contract but at an inflated salary of $4.475 million.

"It’s a concern, no doubt," Coughlin said. "We’ve got a lot of young kids that are going to have to step it up. . . . We would like for the free agents, as you refer to them, to be on our team. I wouldn’t want to think about losing any of them."

• David Wilson, Andre Brown and Da’Rel Scott will "compete like heck" for the starting running back job, Coughlin said.

Brown is a restricted free agent, but the Giants are expected to tender him.

The Giants released veteran Ahmad Bradshaw earlier this month, a move that was "very tough" for Coughlin because of Bradshaw’s competitive spirit and proven toughness.

"Nobody’s perfect, but when that guy took the field, there was never any question about what his intention was and where his intensity was and what he would bring to the table in terms of toughness, courage and how he played," Coughlin said. "The Giants organization loves Ahmad Bradshaw."

• The Giants cleared nearly $14 million in salary-cap space by cutting Bradshaw, Michael Boley and Chris Canty, but more cuts could be coming. Diehl and CB Corey Webster, scheduled to make $7 million in base salary, could be under consideration.

"I wouldn’t be surprised by anything, to be honest with you," Coughlin said. "Some things we do have to get done. We have to find a way to do it."